15 Ways Your 'Healthy' Restaurant Order Isn't Healthy

15 DIY Dishes That Are Way Better Than Anything You'll Find In A Restaurant

So this past January you’ve resolved to adopt a healthy nutrition plan. As such, when you sit down at a restaurant, you scan the menu picking out what appears to be the healthiest dish available. But are you really making a wise decision? Sometimes, these seemingly “healthy” items are really just calorie bombs in disguise.

We’ve sleuthed out the options that may trick you into committing a diet felony, so steer clear of these and prepare your own healthier option at home.

Lettuce Wraps

Wrong. While the high carb soft tortilla shell is gone, making it lower carb in nature, the problem is heavy sauces are typically added, not to mention add-ins like candied nuts, cheese, or even crushed taco shells.

Classic Burger

You may think that a restaurant version of the beef burger is far healthier than the typical fast food option because it’s grilled, not fried, and surely their ground beef must be leaner, right? While they may use slightly leaner ground beef, they use no shortage of it. The average restaurant burger can easily come in over 600-800 calories once you include the bun and all the toppings.

Try this slimmed-down turkey burger recipe instead. With the calorie savings, you can even afford to add a slice of cheese.

Combine together the ground turkey breast meat, egg white, half the clove of garlic and freshly chopped dill. Form into two patties.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add remaining garlic along with onion and mushroom. Sauté until tender. Place on a non-stick grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until turkey is cooked through.

During the last minute of cooking, add the sliced cheese on top and continue to cook until melted. Add mustard and ketchup to the English muffin, top with burger and then spoon on mushroom mixture.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and red bell pepper. Sauté for five minutes. To the skillet, add the black beans, brown rice, and salsa. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously.

Add in the cheese and let stand for a minute until just melted. Spoon the mixture into the center of the soft tortilla and then top with sliced avocado.

Sub Sandwich

You think that sub sandwich you’re purchasing is the healthy choice because it’s not deep fried and it’s made with a protein source other than beef. Plus, those veggies make it legit, right? Before you mark this one down as a healthy option, consider the calorie level of that sub sandwich. Many come in at well over 600 calories or more, much of which comes strictly from carbs in the bread.

Try a lower carb, lightened version prepared on Ezekiel bread for a healthier dose of carbs.

Smear the mustard over the bread and then top with avocado. Add the protein source plus diced vegetables. Top with spinach leaves and then drizzle on a little dressing, prior to covering with the other slice of bread.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of the worst side dishes you can order, despite the fact they may look healthier than their fried counterpart. While French fries are deep fried and high in calories, mashed potatoes are typically prepared with loads of butter and possibly even some cream.

Boil the sweet potatoes in a pot of water until tender. Drain. In a saucepan over low heat, heat the garlic and oil for a minute or two. Add the potatoes and then stir in the skim milk and Greek yogurt.

Begin to mash the potatoes until desired consistency is reached (or use an electric beater).

Add salt and pepper to taste preference and then serve. Makes two to three servings.

Chicken Strips

Here’s a menu item that proves chicken isn’t always your best bet. Chicken strips are loaded with carbs from the breading, and have more fat than any one person should eat in a meal thanks to the fact they’re typically fried. The only good thing about this dish is the chicken it’s made from.

Fortunately, you can create your own. Try this lightened up version of the classic chicken strip recipe.

Whisk the egg whites in a bowl. Combine the oat bran, parmesan cheese, and oregano in a bowl. Dip the chicken egg whites and then into the oat mixture and then place on a non-stick skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Eggs And Hash Browns

When you see the words "hash browns" on a restaurant menu, you might as well substitute the words "french fries" because they’re pretty much the same. Don’t let this morning menu option fool you. They’re still loaded with fat, calories, and won’t do anything to help your healthy diet plan. If you couple that with the fact that eggs prepared in a restaurant are typically loaded with butter, you have quite the diet problem on your hands.

This lightened up version will still taste great while offering solid nutrition to get your day started on the right foot.

Begin by heating the garlic and 1 tbsp. olive oil in a skillet. Whisk together the egg whites, eggs and milk until mixed. Sauté the vegetables in the skillet until slightly tender and then add in the egg mixture. Salt and pepper to taste.

Cook for 3-4 minutes, scrambling as you cook. Remove from skillet and cover to stay warm. Heat second tbsp. of olive oil. Once heated, add the sweet potatoes and sauté for 6-8 minutes or until soft, adding salt and pepper along with a little paprika.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, and stevia along with the onion soup powder mix. Tenderize and flatten the steak to about ½ inch thickness. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet on high heat. Add the steak to the skillet and sear each side on high heat for 1-2 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium heat and then add about ¼ cup water and cover, cooking for 1-2 minutes.

Fruit Smoothie

At your local smoothie bar? Don’t be too quick to order that fruit smoothie you’ve be salivating for. Most are made using high fat yogurts, fruit juice, and can easily pack 500 or more calories per serving.

Smoothies can be a very healthy and viable option, if they are prepared right. Try this protein packed recipe below.

Chicken Caesar Salad

Many people order salads in restaurants thinking it’s a healthy choice. Sadly, it’s oftentimes far from it. It’s not abnormal to find a restaurant salad coming in over 700 calories once the dressing and any toppings are factored in. Furthermore, creamy salads like Caesar are about as bad as it gets.

Try this lightened up version of a chicken salad that will offer just as much taste with a whole lot more nutrition.

Loaded Baked Potato

While the baked potato on its own isn’t a terribly bad option, the problem when ordering it in a restaurant is that it comes with far too much fat and calories added to it. You can thank the sour cream, bacon bits, and possibly even cheese melted on top.

Try this lighter version that can actually make for a balanced meal, or snack on its own.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until done. Slice in half and separate slightly. Spoon the cottage cheese into the center of the potato, dividing between the two.

Sprinkle cheese on top and then cover with green onions. Place under the broiler for 30-60 seconds or until cheddar cheese melts.

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt may seem like the healthy alternative to ice cream, but usually it’s just as high in sugar and often nearly as high in calories. What’s more is that despite it being classified as a ‘yogurt’, it often offers very little protein at all.

You can change that in a hurry with this homemade frozen yogurt recipe.

Chicken Pad Thai

`A delicious spicy dish that most people enjoy, chicken pad Thai is unfortunately another example of something that tastes so good that it can’t possibly be good for you. Well you’re right. Containing high fat and calorie ingredients and often served over a giant serving of white pasta, this dish will set you up for some serious weight gain.

In order to satisfy your Pad Thai cravings, try this lower calorie version below. By creating it yourself, you can ensure you get solid nutrition into your day.

Heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, eggs, and chicken and cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove from skillet and set aside. Heat remaining 1 tbsp. of olive oil and add the bean sprouts, green pepper, and mushrooms.

Sauté until slightly tender. In a small bowl, combine the rice vinegar, fish sauce, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Stir together and then add to the skillet along with the chicken. Cook for 1-2 minutes longer.

Serve on top of yam noodles and then top with peanuts. Makes two servings.

Tuna Salad Pita

While tuna is definitely a great protein source to include in your diet, when it’s mixed with high fat mayonnaise like it is when you get it at your local pita place, you can bank on more fat than you bargained for.

Try a homemade tuna salad recipe that offers good fats that will help keep your hormones in check and assist with the lean muscle building process.

Grilled Chicken Salad

Just like with Caesar salad, don’t think you’ll get off much better if you choose a regular salad just because it’s, well, a salad. When looking at salads in a restaurant setting, always consider the ingredients being added. Whether it’s dried noodles, bacon bits, cheese, candied nuts, or otherwise, chances are, you’re taking in far more than you need.

This delicious grilled salad recipe livens up the dish with some fruit — a perfect option.